Protecting-covering for the human foot



(No Model.)

B. G. BRUEN.

PROTEGTING COVERING FOR THE HUMAN FOOT;

Patented Aug. 30, 1881.

N. PETERS. Fholo-Liflogmphcr. Wnahinglon. D. C.

UNITED STATES \ATENT Orrrca.

EDWIN O. BRUEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PROTECTING-COVERING FOR THE HUMAN FOOT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 246,454, dated August 30, 1881.

Application filed December 28, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN (J. BRUEN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Protecting-Covering for the Human Foot, of which the following specification is a description.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement in clothing for the human foot auxiliary to the ordinary socks and stockings, the object being to provide an additional covering for the toe parts and ball of the foot, which may be worn either over or under the sock or stocking, so as to efficiently protect and keep warm that part of the foot to which it is applied, thereby securing increased comfort to the wearer, preventing contagion and irritation, and facilitating the cure of the diseases and deformities to which these parts of the foot are subject.

The invention consists in constructing detached toe-pieces to cover the toes and ball of the foot, which may be in the form of a mitt, so as to be worn either over or under the toe of the sock or stocking, or they may be made with separate receptacles for the toes, and in this case they must be worn next to the foot, and under the sock or stocking. I prefer to make these detached toe-pieces of a knitted or woven fabric, although any other material suit able for the purpose may be used.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view, showing my improved foot-covering made with separate toe-pieces and applied to the foot. Fig.2 is a plan View of the same when madein the form of a mitt, and showing the application thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of my protectors, showing more plainly the ribs to and on a larger scale.- v

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

The letter A designates one of the detached toe-pieces made in the form of a mitt, with a series of ribs formed at. the open end to keep the mitt in place on the foot and prevent its slipping forward. B designates one made with separate receptacles G for the toes. The pieces A are intended to be applied either over or under the sock or stocking, and the pieces B are to be worn under thesock or stocking and applied like a glove to .the hand. These toepieces may be made by any suitable process (No model.)

of manufacture, and may be composed of any suitable material. They may also be medicated, to prevent the toes from perspiring, or for any other useful purpose. As a covering for the foot auxiliary to socks or stockings, they possess many advantages, among which may be mentioned the following:

First. They materially protect and aid to keep Warm that part of the foot most likely to be affected by cold, and at the same time do not necessitate the use of larger shoes, as the additional covering does not extend beyond the ball of the foot.

Second. It is well known that the toes of the human foot are very sensitive and especially.

liable to contract disease or become deformed. These toe-pieces, particularly when made with separate receptaclesfor the toes, prevent irritation of the tenderparts, preclude contagion by the spread of the disease from one part of the foot to the other, and greatly facilitate a cure, both by reason of the isolation of the diseased parts and the ease with which curative remedies can be applied without cumbering the foot with lint or cloths and obliging the wearer to use larger shoes or slippers. Moreover, the remedy may be applied and kept in direct contact with the parts to be affected by it, no matter how constantly the foot is employed.

Third. By providing a separate covering for each toe in addition to the sock or stocking profuse perspiration is checked or entirely prevented, and the comfort of the wearer is thereby greatly increased.

Fourth. They protect the seek or stocking and largely increase the wear of the same, as it is well known that the toe parts of socks or stockings become worn first.

In some cases I may make the toe-pieces with separate receptacles forless than the usual number of toes, as special diseases or deformities may require such a construction. I

I propose to make and introduce my improved toe-pieces or protective covering for the human foot as a new article of manufacture entirelyindependent of socks or stockings.

I am aware that sections of stockings have heretofore been made--such, for instance, as those described in United States Letters Patent to E. Harmon, No. 39,569, of August 18,

1863; but 1 do not seek to claim this construcopen end to hold it in place, and arranged to tion. be worn either under or over the sock or stock- What I claim as my invention, and desire ing, substantially as shown and specified.

to secure by Letters Patent, is EDWIN O. BRUEN.

The described foot-protector, consisting of \Vitnesses:

a mitt-like device adapted to be drawn over the H. B. HAIGH,

toes of the foot and provided with a contractile I ERNEST C. VEBB. 

